Annual Look Back, 2015 Edition

It’s new years again, and you know what that means? Annual blog update!

2015 was a whirlwind, I’m sure I did more things than I can remember. It’s often the case. That’s kind of the flaw of only writing once a year. But I think it’s also a testament to just how busy I’ve been this year, even if I wanted to write I don’t think I would have had much time to. 2015 was full of things, experiences, assignments, people, and adventure. It certainly feels like I’ve had less time in a given day, but it also feels that during this past year I’ve gotten more done in any given day than I have ever before. If 2015 could be summed up by a single word, it would be “productive”.

Let’s break it down.

Part One: Past Resolutions

Last years resolutions were pretty simple, and this years will be following suit. But before we get to that, let’s take a look at what I hoped to accomplish in 2015:

Exercise more

Be more conscious of what I eat

Get more sleep

Be more social

Well, I was definitely more social. Which I’m going to use as a scapegoat for dropping the ball on the rest of those resolutions. At the end of 2015 I might be in the worst shape of my life, I’m not eating well, and my sleep schedule could still be better (though it’s actually not bad, all things considered). But in spite of all that, at the end of 2015, I might be the happiest I’ve been in recent memory.

Like I said, 2015 has been the year of productivity. I accomplished more at school this year than every other year of schooling to date. During the last month or so of the fall semester I was spending roughly 13 hours a day, 6 days a week on campus. And it paid off: I pulled a 3.8 GPA (out of 4) this term and couldn’t be more proud.

“But wait”, I hear you say, “how could you be social if you’re working so hard at school all the time?”. Ah, observant reader, I shall tell you! My friends are nerds, too. That’s right, I, a huge nerd going to nerd school, made friends with other nerds at nerd school. I’m an introverted person, but if you get me on a topic I’m passionate about you’ll have a hard time getting me to shut up. I’m passionate about what I’m doing in school, which means I’m excited just to be there. Not only that, but I’ve connected with a great bunch of people who share that excitement.

In 2015 I not only looked forward every morning to getting up and getting to campus to be able to learn and do exciting things, but to share that excitement and passion with the people I’ve met. And we’ve extended that outside of the classroom as well. I’ve started exploring a tiny chunk of Toronto this year thanks to some of the people I’ve connected with through school. My waste line shows it, my sleep schedule suffers because of it, and it’s never been easier to come up with excuses not to go to the gym. But Future Steve has all of 2016 to sort that out!

Speaking of which…

Part Two: New Resolutions

Find the time

Or perhaps more accurately, make the time. The time to be active, to be more rested, to cook, the time for myself, the time for someone else. If at any point in 2015 I said I was wasting time, that was a lie. I maintained top marks in my program throughout the year, spent the summer honing my skills at Colgate (yes, that Colgate), started hosting a monthly poker game and somehow became a social cornerstone, and somehow even managed to not make a complete ass of myself to a couple ladies.

In 2015, I didn’t have time to waste time. But I could do with carving out a little more time for myself. I need to be more active, I’ve got a plan for that. I need to be more conscious about my diet, I’ve got a plan for that. I need to keep being awesome, I’ve got a plan for that.

Speaking of which….

Part Three: Putting It All Together

My biggest resolution going into 2015 was to keep on doing what I’m doing. That carries over into 2016 as well, which really goes to show that I’m on my path right now. In any given year there will be things we didn’t do that we wished we had, things we did but wish we hadn’t, missed connections, missed opportunities, room for growth, and an ever growing list of to-dos. No year is without regrets, but 2015 might go down as my year with the least.

Going forward, 2016 is set up to be my busiest year yet. In just over a week I’ll be starting my fifth of six semesters at Seneca. This summer I’ll have another coop placement to further cement and expand my skills. And, depending on how that coop placement works out, I might be graduating by the end of this year (though I have no issues with pushing my final semester back another 4 months if the placement is going well).

And then what? Who knows. That’s 2017 business. But in 2016, I’m going to make the time. For myself, for others, for what makes me happy.